Chief Nutrition (P-5)

Chief Nutrition (P-5)

UNICEF – The United Nations Children’s Fund

Mogadishu, Somalia

Job Context

Somalia continues to face complex humanitarian and development challenges, including high levels of malnutrition, food insecurity, and limited access to essential health services. UNICEF Somalia is committed to addressing these challenges through a comprehensive nutrition programme that supports national systems, builds resilience, and delivers life-saving interventions. The Chief of Nutrition will lead this critical work, ensuring that UNICEF’s nutrition strategy is effectively implemented and aligned with national priorities and global standards.

Purpose of the position

The Chief, Nutrition reports to the Representative or Deputy Representative for general guidance and direction. The Chief is responsible for managing and supervising all stages of the nutrition programme, from strategic planning and formulation to delivery of results. The Chief is also responsible for leading and managing the Nutrition team. The Chief is accountable for ensuring that concrete and sustainable results in maternal, infant and child nutrition programmes are achieved in accordance with plans, allocation, results based-management approaches and methodology (RBM), as well as UNICEF’s Strategic Plans, standards of performance, and accountability framework.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management: Oversee the section’s work plan, set priorities, manage staff performance, and promote accountability;
• Programme Design & Planning: Lead situation analyses and programme development aligned with results-based management (RBM) principles and national/UNICEF strategic frameworks;
• Implementation & Monitoring: Ensure high-quality implementation, monitor progress, manage resources, and oversee donor reporting and evaluation processes;
• Technical Advisory Support: Provide expert guidance to government counterparts and partners on nutrition policies, strategies, and emergency responses;
• Partnerships & Advocacy: Strengthen partnerships with government, donors, UN agencies, and academia; advocate for child nutrition and mobilize resources;
• Innovation & Capacity Building: Promote evidence-based practices and innovations; lead capacity building and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

To qualify as a champion for every child, you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields is required: nutrition, public health, nutritional epidemiology, global/international health and nutrition, health/nutrition research, policy and/or management, health sciences, nutritional epidemiology, or another health-related science field;
• A minimum of ten (10) years of professional experience in a developing country in one or more of the following areas is required: nutrition, public health, nutrition planning and management, or maternal, infant and child health/nutrition care;
• fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language or a local language is an asset.

Desirables:

• Demonstrated skills in leading innovative approaches to mitigate aid diversion, including the rollout of Last Mile Supply Management (LMSM) and OGOW systems at the OTP level, to ensure that essential services reach the intended beneficiaries, especially children. Proven ability to apply data-driven tools to enhance accountability, traceability, and transparency in service delivery;
• Strong understanding and experience in the rationalization of nutrition services, including identifying coverage gaps, addressing duplications, and improving efficiency and impact in high-malnutrition, low-resource settings through using latest technological solutions;
• Experience in health/nutrition programme/project development and management in a UN system agency or organization is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships;
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness;
• Drive to achieve results for impact;
• Innovates and embraces change;
• Manages ambiguity and complexity;
• Thinks and acts strategically;
• Works collaboratively with others;
• Nurtures, leads and manages people for a supervisory role.

Apply NowDeadline 10 August